Carolina Panthers Julius Peppers announces retirement

Friday

Bailey native was a two-sport standout at the University of North Carolina and considered a certain future Pro Football Hall of Famer

CHARLOTTE - Arguably the greatest Carolina Panthers player in team history has announced his retirement.

Veteran defensive end Julius Peppers announced his career is over with a two-minute, 12-second video released by the Panthers' twitter account on Friday morning.

A 17-year NFL veteran played 10 years for the Panthers and is considered a certain Hall of Famer.

He'll retire ranking fourth in NFL history in sacks with 159 1-2, which includes a franchise-record 97 sacks for Carolina. With his 11 career interceptions, Peppers is the only player in NFL history with 150 or more sacks and 10 or more pass interceptions.

"In getting to know Julius over these past months, I’ve learned that he is a man of few words. When he speaks, everyone listens," Panthers owner David Tepper said in a team news release. "With that in mind, I will be brief. He’s one of the best to ever wear a Carolina uniform. He carries himself with dignity, integrity and class, and will always be a Panther."

A native of Bailey in eastern North Carolina, Peppers attended Wilson Hunt, Wilson Fike and Southern Nash high schools and was 1997-98 Parade magazine high school football All-American and 1997-98 N.C. High School Athletic Association male athlete of the year.

Peppers then went on to be a two-sport standout at the University of North Carolina, earning All-ACC football honors in 2000 and 2001 and helped the Tar Heels' basketball team to the 2000 Final Four.

After declaring for early entry into the NFL draft, Peppers was selected No. 2 overall by the Panthers in the 2002 NFL draft.

Peppers played the first eight seasons and final two seasons of his 17-year NFL career with the Panthers. He played four seasons for the Chicago Bears (2010-13) and three seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2014-16). He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a six-time All-Pro selection.

"There are very few players that you come across that make you think of the word ‘special’ when you mention their name, but that’s Julius," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said in a team news release. "He’s a special player and a special person. His consistency and the ability to make big plays at big times are what define him on the field.

"Off the field, he’s a great leader. He chooses his words carefully. He’s got great perspective not only on football, but on life. For him to be able to come back and to finish his career as a Panther is a great ending to a phenomenal career."

Peppers was Hurney's first-ever draft pick as a team's top personnel decision-maker in that 2002 draft.

The 38-year-old Peppers played in 266 of a possible 272 regular season games, the sixth most games played by a defensive player in NFL history.

He also played in 176 consecutive games to close his career, the second-longest streak among active players at the close of the season behind Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, whom Peppers played against in college when Rivers was at N.C. State.

At retirement, Peppers was the oldest defensive player in the league.

While sacks were the biggest way Peppers affected the game, he was the league's most disruptive force in creating turnovers.

Since his rookie year in 2002, Peppers’ 21 fumble recoveries are the most in the NFL and his 51 forced fumbles are second most (Robert Mathis has 52).

Also, his 82 passes defensed are the most among defensive linemen and he blocked 13 kicks, second most since the statistic began being tracked in 2000.

Peppers finished with 897 career tackles based on coaches’ film review.

Following Peppers' last season at North Carolina, he won the Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best defensive player.

In the NFL, he was Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and finished fourth in voting for NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 and 2010, going down as one of the best players never to win the award.

“Julius is one of the greatest to ever play the game of football,” Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said in a team news release. “To put up the numbers he did for as long as he did speaks to his incredible talent and commitment. He is a leader in the locker room and in the community. Getting to know him over the last two seasons has been tremendous because of the type of person he is. What he did for the people affected by Hurricane Florence, getting involved and bringing them hope, says a lot about who he is. I’m proud that I get to say that I was one of his coaches, and I think it’s fitting that he gets to end his career as a Carolina Panther.”

And Peppers also made a big impact off the field.

He is the Panthers’ current nominee for the 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, an honor that will be awarded Saturday night. After Hurricane Florence tore through Peppers’ home state last September, Peppers gave time and money and advocating the recovery efforts.

Richard Walker: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/jrwalk22

Julius Peppers has something to say... pic.twitter.com/VKGjFmlWum

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 1, 2019

(2001) UNC DE Julius Peppers throws down the alley from UNC QB Ronald Curry to tie it up! Classic. pic.twitter.com/MFrtDZOGht

— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) February 1, 2019

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.